Tennis

7 months ago

Rasheed's three picks for men's Wimbledon title and one to watch in women's draw

By Matthew Younan

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Roger Rasheed, the previous coach of Australian former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt says it was an extraordinary effort by Thanasi Kokkinakis to come back after being two sets down to knock off his top 20 opponent Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon.

The number 93 affectionately known as the ‘Kokk’ saved four match points to get through and will now meet French player Lucas Pouille in the second round.

Rasheed said the weather delays may have helped Kokkinakis regain his focus.

“When you’re 2 sets to love down, and 1 all, it gives you time to reset,” he said on SEN's Dwayne's World.

But he said compatriot Jordan Thompson appeared “flat” after winning his five-set match coming back from two sets to love.

“I thought he was just flat – a match he could have actually won too to get through to the third round so he’d be pretty disappointed about that,” Rasheed said.

Meanwhile, the experienced tennis coach said the men’s draw will be interesting but thinks that three players stand out to him above the rest.

He has Serbian star Novak Djokovic, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner as the men to beat.

As Djokovic hasn’t got Alcaraz or Sinner in his half of the draw, Rasheed expects that to play in his favour.

The 55-year-old also expects Italian world number one Sinner and current world number three Alcaraz to battle it out in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, on the women’s draw, he has question marks around the top seeds Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

With doubts on the top two, he has his eye on fourth seed Elena Rybakina and thinks she might be the most dangerous player in the women’s draw.

“Elena Rybakina is the one I like – she’s tall, big serve, hits the ball through the court so gets a lot of purchase and gets some value out of the grass courts.

“So she’s the one I’ve got my eye on there.”